This low renter is a surprisingly neat, well-done, doppelganger noir.
Don Castle has a dual role as crook, Don Carney, and District Attorney, Robert Thorne.
D.A. Castle is the new D.A. while look-a-like Castle has just gotten out of prison after a 2 year bit.
Local mob boss, Edward Keane, is being filled in about the D.A. by bent cop, Joe Sawyer. Sawyer says Castle will not play ball like the last D.A.
Keane has other problems at the moment. Henchmen, Douglas Fowley, is hinting that he is going to rat to the Law. He is not happy about a money split. Keane asks gunsel, Charles McGraw, to deal with the canary. "He won't be singing after tonight!"Responds McGraw.
That evening, McGraw's button man, Paul Guilfoyle, pumps a pair of rounds into Fowley. Problem over. Guilfoyle though, is a bit of a drunk, and he gets himself pinched for killing a barroom pick-up.
Now Guilfoyle is hinting he will talk to the law if the mob does get him out of jail. This will be his third strike and he does not intend to rot in jail. Boss Keane of course is not amused.
Meanwhile, Castle, the crook, is in the arms of his wife, Patricia Knight. Later, after some couch wrestling, he picks up the newspaper and sees the photo of the new District Attorney. Castle and Knight are both amazed by the picture. "This guy is me!" He sees dollar signs as he decides to pay mob boss Keane a visit.
The crook strolls in for a talk with Keane. He convinces Keane that he can play the D.A. Keane is all smiles as he plans to grab the D.A. and replace him with his man.
Keane sends Jeff Chandler, a bruno with the nickname, "Knuckles", out to grab the D.A. Chandler waits in the back seat of D.A. Castle's car. He cracks Castle on the head with a pistol butt, then drives the D.A. to a secluded house where he locks him is a secure room.
The next day, both Castles meet for the first time. The crook needs to study the D.A. in order to get his mannerisms down pat. Chandler is also kept handy in case the D.A. tries any funny business.
The District Attorney's office reports to the Police that Castle is missing. They are unable to find him. The Police figure he was unable to handle the pressure and has split town. His girl, Peggy Knudsen, a newspaper reporter, however smells a rat. She knows that Castle must be in trouble.
Several days later, while Chandler is out grabbing some food, the crook lets his guard down. The D.A. takes quick advantage of the situation and decks his double. He then changes clothes with the crook and props him up on the bed. And just in time too. Chandler has returned from his outing.
Chandler walks in, pulls his rod, and shoots the "wrong" Castle. He tells the D.A. to come. It is time for the mob's Castle to reappear. Chandler drives Castle to the edge of town and pushes Castle's car into a ravine. Chandler gives a solid punch to Castle's head laying him out. Chandler then uses a pay phone to call the Police about a car wreck he saw.
The next day, while in hospital, Castle explains his disappearance. He was kidnapped, and held by some unknown criminals. He had managed to escape but had crashed due to his weakened state. Castle does not mention the double. He can't be sure who else is on Keane's payroll.
Now Sawyer, the crooked cop, shows with orders for Castle from boss Keane. He is to arrange the release of Guilfoyle from jail. Keane wants Sawyer to pick Guilfoyle up at the jail for a fake trip to the dentist. Sawyer will then phony up an escape attempt by Guilfoyle, which will of course end with Guilfoyle's death. Problem solved.
Castle now gets hold of his girl, reporter Knudsen. He fills her in on what is going on. She tells him to go to the Police. Castle would rather wait till he can make a rock solid case before he brings in the Police. He says there might be more bent cops besides Sawyer. He has Knudsen bring in her brother, James Arness into the fold. Castle has a plan and needs some help he can trust.
Arness, and a couple of his army buddies, stop Sawyer at the point of a gun after he leaves the jail with Guilfoyle. They relieve Sawyer of his gun, and his passenger. Arness and company bring Guilfoyle to Knudsen's apartment where Castle is waiting. Castle fills Guilfoyle in on Keane's plan to have Sawyer deep six him. Guilfoyle agrees to turn states evidence on McGraw, Sawyer and Keane.
Castle returns to the office where a rattled Sawyer is waiting. "I lost Guilfoyle!" The pair are then interrupted by the dead Castle's wife, Patricia Knight. She waltzes over and starts swapping spit with Castle. "I've missed you honey."
Castle tells Knight she should return home and he will join her there. Castle has Sawyer drive her home. Once outside, Knight asks Sawyer, "what is going on?" "Did you guys pull another switch?" "That guy ain't my hubby."
Sawyer's eyes go wide as he listens to Knight. He shoves her in the car and floors it to boss Keane's place. Keane is equally surprised by Knight's information. His empire is starting to crumble. Loose ends need to be cut off. Soon McGraw and Sawyer are both pushing up daisies.
Castle though has more than enough evidence now to pinch Keane. Keane of course does not come quietly and a few pieces of lead are added to his wardrobe. (b/w)
Don Castle has a dual role as crook, Don Carney, and District Attorney, Robert Thorne.
D.A. Castle is the new D.A. while look-a-like Castle has just gotten out of prison after a 2 year bit.
Local mob boss, Edward Keane, is being filled in about the D.A. by bent cop, Joe Sawyer. Sawyer says Castle will not play ball like the last D.A.
Keane has other problems at the moment. Henchmen, Douglas Fowley, is hinting that he is going to rat to the Law. He is not happy about a money split. Keane asks gunsel, Charles McGraw, to deal with the canary. "He won't be singing after tonight!"Responds McGraw.
That evening, McGraw's button man, Paul Guilfoyle, pumps a pair of rounds into Fowley. Problem over. Guilfoyle though, is a bit of a drunk, and he gets himself pinched for killing a barroom pick-up.
Now Guilfoyle is hinting he will talk to the law if the mob does get him out of jail. This will be his third strike and he does not intend to rot in jail. Boss Keane of course is not amused.
Meanwhile, Castle, the crook, is in the arms of his wife, Patricia Knight. Later, after some couch wrestling, he picks up the newspaper and sees the photo of the new District Attorney. Castle and Knight are both amazed by the picture. "This guy is me!" He sees dollar signs as he decides to pay mob boss Keane a visit.
The crook strolls in for a talk with Keane. He convinces Keane that he can play the D.A. Keane is all smiles as he plans to grab the D.A. and replace him with his man.
Keane sends Jeff Chandler, a bruno with the nickname, "Knuckles", out to grab the D.A. Chandler waits in the back seat of D.A. Castle's car. He cracks Castle on the head with a pistol butt, then drives the D.A. to a secluded house where he locks him is a secure room.
The next day, both Castles meet for the first time. The crook needs to study the D.A. in order to get his mannerisms down pat. Chandler is also kept handy in case the D.A. tries any funny business.
The District Attorney's office reports to the Police that Castle is missing. They are unable to find him. The Police figure he was unable to handle the pressure and has split town. His girl, Peggy Knudsen, a newspaper reporter, however smells a rat. She knows that Castle must be in trouble.
Several days later, while Chandler is out grabbing some food, the crook lets his guard down. The D.A. takes quick advantage of the situation and decks his double. He then changes clothes with the crook and props him up on the bed. And just in time too. Chandler has returned from his outing.
Chandler walks in, pulls his rod, and shoots the "wrong" Castle. He tells the D.A. to come. It is time for the mob's Castle to reappear. Chandler drives Castle to the edge of town and pushes Castle's car into a ravine. Chandler gives a solid punch to Castle's head laying him out. Chandler then uses a pay phone to call the Police about a car wreck he saw.
The next day, while in hospital, Castle explains his disappearance. He was kidnapped, and held by some unknown criminals. He had managed to escape but had crashed due to his weakened state. Castle does not mention the double. He can't be sure who else is on Keane's payroll.
Now Sawyer, the crooked cop, shows with orders for Castle from boss Keane. He is to arrange the release of Guilfoyle from jail. Keane wants Sawyer to pick Guilfoyle up at the jail for a fake trip to the dentist. Sawyer will then phony up an escape attempt by Guilfoyle, which will of course end with Guilfoyle's death. Problem solved.
Castle now gets hold of his girl, reporter Knudsen. He fills her in on what is going on. She tells him to go to the Police. Castle would rather wait till he can make a rock solid case before he brings in the Police. He says there might be more bent cops besides Sawyer. He has Knudsen bring in her brother, James Arness into the fold. Castle has a plan and needs some help he can trust.
Arness, and a couple of his army buddies, stop Sawyer at the point of a gun after he leaves the jail with Guilfoyle. They relieve Sawyer of his gun, and his passenger. Arness and company bring Guilfoyle to Knudsen's apartment where Castle is waiting. Castle fills Guilfoyle in on Keane's plan to have Sawyer deep six him. Guilfoyle agrees to turn states evidence on McGraw, Sawyer and Keane.
Castle returns to the office where a rattled Sawyer is waiting. "I lost Guilfoyle!" The pair are then interrupted by the dead Castle's wife, Patricia Knight. She waltzes over and starts swapping spit with Castle. "I've missed you honey."
Castle tells Knight she should return home and he will join her there. Castle has Sawyer drive her home. Once outside, Knight asks Sawyer, "what is going on?" "Did you guys pull another switch?" "That guy ain't my hubby."
Sawyer's eyes go wide as he listens to Knight. He shoves her in the car and floors it to boss Keane's place. Keane is equally surprised by Knight's information. His empire is starting to crumble. Loose ends need to be cut off. Soon McGraw and Sawyer are both pushing up daisies.
Castle though has more than enough evidence now to pinch Keane. Keane of course does not come quietly and a few pieces of lead are added to his wardrobe. (b/w)